Automobile radio aerial



L. C. ARMSTRONG AUTOMOBILE RADIO AERIAL Oct. 17, 1944.

Original Filed Sept. 10, 1936 m h mm I WW P o M. m

ATTORNEY.

Patented a. 17, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Substituted forabandoned application Serial No. 100,163, September 10, 1936.Thisapplication February 19, 1944, Serial No. 523,127

2 Claims.

This invention relates to automobile radio'antennae and is a substitutefor my application Serial No. 100,163, filed Sept. 10, 1936, entitledAutomobile radio aerial. The object of the invention is to provide aconstruction utilizing a part of the regular automobile equipment as theradio aerial antenna and insulating this equipment from the remainder ofthe automobile so that it will provide sufficient capacity to operatethe automobile radio and at the same time prevent material capacitycoupling between the parts used for the aerial and the other parts ofthe automobile.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automobile radioantenna consisting of the usual mufiler and exhaust pipe which issupported in insulating brackets and is also insulated from theautomobile exhaust manifold.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connection in theexhaust pipe between the automobile engine and the muiller whereby themuffler is insulated from the engine and, at the same time, may functionin the usual manner while providing an antenna for the automobile radio.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube of insulatingmaterial forming a part of the exhaust pipe and of sufiicient length tprevent material capacity coupling between the muffler and the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination of aninsulating tube between the muffler and the engine and a series ofsupporting brackets for the muffler arranged to insulate and support themuflier in spaced relation with the other parts of the automobile toprevent material capacity coupling.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form ofconstruction by which these objects are attained is shown in theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a section showing the mufiier asmounted in an automobile chassis and connected to the automobile radio.7

Fig. 2 is a plan View showing the position of the muffler and pipes inrelation to the automobile chassis.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through the insulator leading to themuffler. V

The muffler I shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided with an inlet pipe 2and with a discharge or tail pipe 3 and these pipes are supported inmetal brackets 4 attached to the automobile chassis 5 as shown moreparticularly in Fig. 2. In

order to insulate the pipes 2 and 3 from the automobile chassis anasbestos or other heat resisting and non-conductive insulator 6 ispositioned about the respective pipe and is clamped within each bracket4. The use of asbestos packing at this point also prevents the pipes 2and 3 from rattling in the brackets 4. The exhaust pipe 1 from theautomobile engine is normally connected directly to the muiller by meansof an ordinary pipe coupling but, in this construction, the ends of thepipes 2 and I are separated as shown in Fig. 3 and extend into theopposite ends of an insulating tube 8 which may be threaded on theexterior to receive the packing nuts 9 and ID. A packing II is providedbetween each end of the insulating tube 8 and the nuts 9 or ID so thatin turning up the nuts 9 and Ill these packing are compressed to preventgas leakage about the pipes 2 or 1.

When so connected, the insulating tube 8 insulates the pipe 2 from thepipe 1 and, at the same time, the tube 8 is preferably heat resistant sothat it will not deteriorate when so used.

When assembled, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the radio lead in wire I 2may be connected to a binding post l4 secured to the mufiler housing andthis wire I2 is preferably carried through a tubular shield [5 to theautomobile radio l6 shown in Fig. 1. By this arrangement, the mufflertogether with the pipes 2 and 3 and the nut II] are completely insulatedfrom the other parts of the automobile and provide an antenna for theautomobile radio which is up out of the way underneath the car where itwill not easily be disturbed or damaged and as the muffler and pipes 2and 3 become very hot foreign matter is prevented from adhering to theseparts. The fact that the muffler and pipes 2 and 3 become very hotprevents ice from forming on these parts and possibly grounding theaerial to the other parts of the car and the heat of these parts alsokeeps the parts dry so that there is no opportunity of grounding theaerial during a rain storm or by foreign matter accumulating between theparts of the aerial and the other parts of the automobile. By use of theinsulating tube 8 and by spacing the muiller and pipes 2 and 3 at aconsiderable distance from other metal parts of the automobile by meansof the brackets 4, material capacity coupling between the parts of theantenna and the other parts of the automobile is prevented and thusmaximum efliciency is obtained from the antenna. Also, by means of thespecial shielded lead'in wire, material capacity coupling is preventedbetween the lead in wire and the automobile frame and other parts.

While I have described the insulators 6 as being made of asbestos, thesemay be made of any other suitable insulating material and the tube 8 maybe made of any heat resisting insulating material which will stand upunder the heat and pressures normally carried through the exhaust pipe.The. length of the tube or apertured element 8 need only be sufficientto prevent a material capacity coupling between the parts forming theantenna and the engine or exhaust conduit 1.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that the device isvery simple and efficient in operation, will not easily get out oforder, may be installed at very low cost and provides a device whichaccomplishes the objects described.

Having thus fully described my invention, its

duit for the engine, an apertured insulating element between saidexhaust gas conduit portion and the engine, said insulating elementbeing incombustible by the heatof the exhaust gases passing through thesaid portion of the exhaust conduit, means insulating said conduitportion from the remaining portion of the automobile, and a lead-in wiredirectly connected to the said insulated portion of the exhaust conduitand to the radio apparatus.

2. An antenna for the radio apparatus of an automobile having aninternal combustion engine, comprising a muffler and portion of theexhaust conduit for the engine, an apertured insulating element betweenthe mufiier and engine and subject to the heat of exhaust gases andincombustible by the heat thereof whereby it is maintained practicallyfree from carbon deposit, a shielded lead-in wire connected directly tothe muffler and leading to the radio apparatus, and means supportingsaid muffier and conduit portion in insulated relation with theremaining portionslof the automobile.

LYLE C. ARMSTRONG.

